Guinea pig treats sold at pet stores often contain more fat, sugar, or other unhealthy ingredients than a guinea pig can safely eat. Some are even made from ingredients that guinea pigs can't digest, such as yogurt.[1] Remember that guinea pigs do not have the same tastes or needs as humans, and will go crazy over something as simple as these treats made from vegetables and fruits.

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Steps

Method 1 of 2: Making Healthy Treats

1

Choose raw, nutritious vegetables. Guinea pigs should eat fresh vegetables daily, but because these are some of their favorite foods, a larger portion works great as a treat once every few days or once a week. Use vegetables already in the guinea pig's regular diet, only adding new ones to treats or daily food in small, gradually increasing quantities to avoid stomach upsets.

Romaine, bib, and red leaf lettuce make excellent treats.[2] Avoid iceberg lettuce and other watery lettuces, however, which have few nutrients and can cause stomach problems.

Bell peppers or tomatoes with the seeds and stalk removed are great. Baby tomatoes don't need their seeds removed, but the stalk can still be poisonous.[3]

Carrots, corn, and celery are popular, including leaves.

Most other vegetables are safe, but refer to the "foods to avoid" section first or consult a veterinarian.

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2

Use a few other vegetables in limited amounts. Like most people and animals, guinea pigs appreciate variety. They will often enthusiastically approach a platter of several vegetable pieces, even if they normally eat vegetables every day. While you can use a combination of the vegetables listed above, certain other vegetables are best suited for an occasional treat rather than part of a regular diet:

Cucumbers have little nutritional content, but crunchy vegetables help keep the guinea pig's teeth worn to a healthy length. They also provides extra water for hot days.

Cabbage, collards, bok choy, broccoli, and cauliflower can be given as a nutritious treat, no more than a small chunk or two per guinea pig. These can cause gas and bloating in the pet if fed in larger quantities.[4]

3

Add a little bit of fruit (optional). Fruit is high in sugar and acid, and tend not to cause as much excitement as vegetables in any case, although your guinea pig's tastes may vary. A small amount of fruit added to the treat mix can provide additional vitamin C, which guinea pigs need to stay healthy. Consider adding one of the following options to the vegetables:

A small slice of apple or pear, with all core and pips removed.

or one or two slices of oranges, tangerines, or similar mild citrus fruit. Sour varieties and related fruits like grapefruit may go uneaten due to the sour taste.[5]

4

Rinse all food thoroughly. Rub the fruits and vegetables under running water to remove bacteria, pesticides, or other harmful substances from the surface.[6] To be safe, do this even for home-grown vegetables, since car exhaust or other particles in the air can gather on any vegetable.

5

Chop vegetables and fruit into bite sized pieces. Chop the treats into chunks to make them easier for guinea pigs to eat. This is especially important for stringy vegetables such as celery, which can be difficult for the pet to break into manageable, safe pieces by itself.

6

Serve as a mix without cooking (recommended). Cooking removes some vitamins and nutrients, so simply serve the vegetables and fruit as-is to the guinea pigs. Cooking can also make some vegetables less crunchy. Guinea pigs need crunchy food to wear their teeth down to healthy levels; otherwise, the overgrown teeth can make it hard for them to eat or even damage their jaw and head.

7

Blend and bake, if necessary for storage. If you want to keep a lot of treats, you can puree these with the guinea pig's regular hay and pellets to create a mush that takes up less volume. This may also be handy if you are transporting a large volume of treats. To restore the crunch and increase the shelf life of this mush, roll it out between sheets of cling wrap, refrigerate 20 minutes, then bake in the oven at 350ºF (177ºC) or lower for about 20 minutes, or until firm.[7]

Timothy pellets intended for guinea pigs are best, or alfalfa pellets for growing or pregnant guinea pigs. Use treats made with pellets more sparingly than pure vegetable treats.[8]

Once firm, you can use cookie cutters to turn these treats into fun shapes.

Method 2 of 2: Foods to Avoid

1

Never feed guinea pigs meat or dairy products. Guinea pigs are herbivores, meaning they are only able to digest plant products. Meat and dairy products contain animal proteins, which they cannot digest.

2

Avoid nuts and seeds. While guinea pigs may eat these and enjoy them, small sharp objects like this have the potential to cause cuts or choking hazards.[9] A few small seeds mashed into a treat might be okay, but when in doubt, don't risk it. Always avoid seeds with the husk still attached, such as sunflower seeds.

3

Don't feed avocado or coconut to guinea pigs. These are too high in fat to make a good guinea pig treat. More importantly, avocado can be toxic to many pets, causing health problems or even death.[10]

4

Ban iceberg lettuce or potatoes. These vegetables can cause digestive problems, and provide little nutrition anyway. Almost every other vegetable is safe to eat as an occasional treat, but introduce new vegetables in tiny quantities to avoid upset stomachs.[11]

5

Do not provide rhubarb or grapes. Rhubarb can cause stomach problems. Some veterinarians think grapes, especially seeded grapes, can lead to kidney disease.[12] While the level of risk is unclear, it's best to avoid grapes in favor of safer fruits.

All fruits should only be fed occasionally, in small quantities.

6

Do not feed guinea pigs multivitamins. Vitamin C is the only vitamin you need to provide your guinea pig. Multivitamins contain other vitamins in quantities that can cause serious problems in guinea pigs.[13] It's best to provide only vitamin C by adding small amounts of cranberry juice or vitamin C drops to the guinea pig's food instead.[14]

If the guinea pig reduces the amount of water it drinks due to the taste of the juice or drops, stop adding it and instead provide the guinea pig daily with pellets containing vitamin C, or with vegetables such as bell pepper or squash.[15]

7

Never use human treats. Stick to the vegetables and fruits on this page, or with treats recommended by a veterinarian. Human food can have harmful effects on guinea pigs. Chocolate, baked goods, alcohol, and coffee are especially harmful.

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